A 31-year-old man from Georgia was sentenced on Friday, February 9 to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 100 years.
The sentencing follows Gregory Deonte Norwood’s conviction for the murder of Crystal Powell in 2022, the mother of his infant daughter. The case garnered widespread attention due to its brutality and the fact that young children witnessed the murder.
On the evening of April 16, 2022, in Monroe, Georgia, about 44 miles east of Atlanta, an altercation at Powell’s residence ended tragically when Norwood stabbed her 14 times outside her front door. Powell’s four children and two young cousins, ages three to 11, witnessed the crime.
After the attack, the eldest child, an 11-year-old, bravely called 911. Norwood fled the scene with his infant daughter, prompting a response from the Monroe Police Department. Norwood was arrested in Newton County, with evidence of the crime, including blood on his shoes that matched Powell’s DNA.
Throughout the investigation and trial, Norwood maintained that Powell, 31, had self-inflicted her wounds, a claim contradicted by the evidence. The prosecution presented prior instances of domestic violence by Norwood and expert testimony from the medical examiner, indicating the wounds were not self-inflicted. The testimonies of the five child witnesses were crucial in illustrating the events.
Superior Court Judge Layla H. Zon delivered the sentence, marking a pivotal moment of accountability. Before sentencing, Powell’s family members and some child witnesses shared the profound impact her death had on them through victim impact statements.
The jury convicted Norwood on multiple charges, including two counts of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, family violence battery, and first-degree cruelty to children, after less than an hour of deliberation.
Powell, commemorated for her dedication as a teacher and her love for family activities, left a lasting legacy within her community and among her loved ones.
District Attorney Randy McGinley expressed hope that the verdict and sentence would offer some closure and justice to Powell’s family and friends, praising the support from the community and the efforts of law enforcement in securing the conviction.